Resignation rather than hope prevails – that is how one could describe the general mood of European statesmen ahead of this year's Munich Security Conference (13–15.02.2026). Just over a year after Donald Trump began his second term as President of the United States, transatlantic relations are considered seriously damaged. Trump's destructive foreign policy casts a shadow over the Munich Security Conference as a high-profile gathering.
Destruction as a central feature of current politics
The conference has been defined as transatlantic for decades. However, it is currently experiencing, as its chairman Wolfgang Ischinger puts it, "an unprecedented crisis of credibility and trust." The Munich Security Report, which accompanies the conference, bears the telling title "Under Destruction."
The report classifies Donald Trump as a "demolition man," a statesman who, through his "demolitionist policies," destroys existing rules and respected institutions. Trump's statement that he does not need international law is just one of many examples of this.
Although circumstances are more difficult than ever, the security conference, founded more than 60 years ago, sees itself as a forum for exchange and dialogue this year. Among the more than a thousand participants are as many as 200 government representatives from 120 countries.
Expected at the traditional Bayerischer Hof conference hotel are, among others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Frederiksen recently bravely confronted Donald Trump when he made claims to Greenland, which belongs to Denmark.
Washington sends Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Despite the tensions in transatlantic relations, this year too, a large delegation from the United States is coming, with the Trump administration represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He is expected, as conference director Ischinger expects, to speak “about American foreign policy, not on topics that do not fall directly under his portfolio.” This is an obvious allusion to the fiery speech with which US Vice President J.D. Vance agitated the conference audience last year. Vance, who is not on the guest list this year, criticized the alleged lack of freedom of speech in Europe.
The American delegation, however, has long been made up of more than just Trump supporters. Among them are staunch opponents of the US president, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom. He already made it clear in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he expects "more backbone" and determination from the Europeans in the future - because, as he said, they are giving in too quickly to Trump.
Europe on the verge of a new era of self-affirmation?
With this, Newsom touched on the essence of the question that will play a major role at this year's conference: How should Europe reposition itself in the changed global circumstances? And what role can Germany play in this? Friedrich Merz, who will open the conference on Friday (13.02.2026) - for the first time in his capacity as German Chancellor - will speak about this.
In a recent government statement in the Bundestag, Merz called on Europeans to “learn to speak the language of power politics themselves.” This includes massive investments in European defense capabilities, as well as building new partnerships.
Around the world, there are "emerging democracies with open and growing markets, which are explicitly looking for what we have to offer," Merz emphasized in the Bundestag. And he added, referring to the US: "As democracies, we are partners and allies, not subordinates." In Munich, the chancellor is likely to elaborate on these thoughts further - and thereby set the tone for a debate in which the current crisis is also seen as a catalyst for strategic change.
Representatives of the Iranian regime are not welcome.
Invitations to the Munich Security Conference are in high demand, but are given out with care. This year, unlike in previous years, representatives of the Iranian government are not welcome in Munich. The reason is the massive violence with which the leadership in Tehran suppressed recent demonstrations in the country. However, representatives of the Iranian opposition and civil society will speak at the meeting.
Although Russia’s war against Ukraine will once again be one of the central themes of the conference, representatives of the Russian government will not be present. In 2022, when the conference was held just before the start of Russia’s major offensive in Ukraine, the Russian delegation collectively canceled its attendance, Ischinger recalls. Since then, “not a word has been heard” from Moscow regarding possible participation.
Speaking about negotiations on a possible end to the war, Ischinger stressed that Russia, while giving the impression of being ready for negotiations, is at the same time terrorizing the Ukrainian civilian population. For this reason, the Ewald von Kleist Prize awarded by the Conference this year will not be awarded to a deserving individual, but to the "brave Ukrainian people."
AfD politicians back in Munich after two years
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has not been welcome in Munich for the past two years. Conference director Ischinger has now reversed his predecessor's course and decided not to exclude the largest opposition party in the Bundestag. Three expert AfD members of parliament from the Bundestag were invited, but their appearances on the main stages of the conference are not planned. Last year, the AfD considered its exclusion to be unjustified discrimination and initiated legal proceedings, but was unsuccessful in its lawsuit.
Bonus video:
